Page 68 of Romancing the Rumrunner
Tony laughed again and pulled her hands away. “You are the most beautiful thing I have ever laid eyes on.”
Jessie seriously doubted that. She’d been painting and in an effort to save her severely diminished wardrobe, had borrowed a pair of paint-splattered workman’s overalls, and had covered her hair with a cloth.
“Show me around the new place,” he said.
Jessie jumped off the counter and grabbed his hand, her heart near to bursting with happiness.
Tony took a step backward and stumbled, nearly jumping from his skin at the ear piercing yowling emanating from behind him.
“Oh,” Jessie frowned, bending down to scoop up a seriously peeved black and white striped cat. “You stepped on him.”
“What the hell is that?”
Jessie burst out laughing. “What do you think it is?”
“You got a cat?” Tony eyed her pet dubiously.
“He reminded me of you.”
“Of me? Oh very funny.” Tony snorted, giving her a mock glare. “I looked better in my stripes.”
“Well, I wouldn’t know. I wasn’t allowed to visit.”
“Ah, come on. You aren’t going to hold that against me, are you?”
Jessie grinned, every care she’d had for the last several months fading into insignificance now that Tony was with her again. “I’ll think about it.”
Tony laughed and reached out a hesitant hand to pet the ruffled beast. The cat immediately began purring and arched into Tony’s hand. Jessie knew exactly how he felt. She wanted to do the same thing.
Her cheeks burned and she bent to put the cat on the floor, hoping she’d hid the telltale blush from Tony.
“What’s his name?”
“Ziggy.”
Tony’s incredulous laugh rang through the shop. “You named him after my cell mate?”
Jessie shrugged. “It seemed fitting.”
Tony took her hand, still chuckling. “Come on doll, show me around.”
She took him on a tour, showed him the expanded shop with its new deli section, and then took him to the third floor where her new apartment was getting its finishing touches.
She showed him the bedroom last. It was her favorite room. She’d had the workmen put in two large windows that flooded the room with light. Tony looked at the mattress on the floor and raised an eyebrow.
“Camping out?”
Jessie shrugged. “I couldn’t wait.”
“Hmm,” he said, leaning down to steal another kiss. “I know the feeling.”
She smiled, his words igniting a trail of tingling warmth that quickly spread through her, and reached up to lock her arms around his neck. “Do you now?”
“Um hmm,” he murmured, walking her backward while his lips moved more urgently over hers.
When they reached the mattress, they sank down on their knees, their lips still locked together.
“I don’t ever want to be away from you again,” Jessie said, leaning back to give Tony better access to her neck.
